We're currently seeing a wave of financial reports from the major manufacturers around the globe, some of which are covered in our newsletter. There are a couple of interesting aspects to the reporting patterns. Firstly, there are vast differences in the style of communication. Some companies issue elaborate press releases while others simply post their earnings figures on their own websites. And the tone and style of the releases seem to reflect the companies' character rather than performance. Some strong results have been hidden, while other vendors do a song and dance over modest results. The other interesting aspect is the general good performance in sales and profits - with the exception, perhaps of Linde UK, as we report this week. The strong results are a reflection of a robust and diverse industry. They also show the value of diversification, with multi-faceted companies continuing to do well regardless of global economic dynamics, such as the housing slow-down in the US or fears of an economic recession.